W. Hazaiah Williams
(1930-1999)

Yin Cheng-Zong, Pianist
". one rarely hears the piano played so lovingly, expressively and with such
a sensitivity to the sheer physical beauty of sound." - New York Times

Sunday, April 27, 2008 at 4:00
SCOTTISH RITE THEATRE
1547 Lakeside Drive, Oakland (closest BART: Lake Merritt Station)
Buy Tickets Now

Sponsors of this event:
U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Lee
Former Berkeley Vice-Mayor Maudelle Shirek
Center For Urban-Black Studies
The Church For Today
Four Seasons Concerts
Marcus Book Stores
Post Newspapers and El Mundo
Transcontinental Mortgage & Investment Company

For past events please see below

The Rev. Dr. W. Hazaiah Williams was the first African-American Impresario of a major classical music concert series in this country. He was founder of Four Seasons Concerts and Today's Artists Concerts, which he formed in 1958 and directed until his death in 1999. He was also founder and pastor of the Church For Today in Berkeley and founding president of the Center For Urban-Black Studies at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley where he was awarded two honorary Doctor of Divinity degrees. He led Civil Rights causes in the San Francisco Bay Area, served as Executive Director of the East Bay Conference on Race, Religion and Social Justice and for 8 years was director on the Berkeley Board of Education during the period in which the Berkeley Public Schools were desegregated. Through this annual concert, we remember and honor Dr. Williams' contributions to our local community and to our country.

~~~

Past memorial concerts:

1999 - EWA PODLES, Contralto
Moscow Chamber Orchestra

2000 - "Three Generations"
WILLIAM WARFIELD, Bass-Baritone
BENJAMIN MATTHEWS, Bass-Baritone
ROBERT SIMS, Baritone

2001 - JEANNE STARK-IOCHMANS, Pianist

2002 - "The Art of the Spiritual"
VANESSA AYERS, Mezzo Soprano
SAMUEL McKELTON, Tenor
WILLIAM BROWN, Tenor
AUTRIS PAIGE, Baritone
WILLIAM WARFIELD, Bass-Baritone

2003 - "Haydn's Seven Last Words from the Cross"
RAYE RICHARDSON, Narrator
JEANNE STARK-IOCHMANS, Pianist

2004 - "The Art of the Spiritual"
HILDA HARRIS, Mezzo Soprano
GWENDOLYN BROWN, Contralto
SAMUEL McKELTON, Tenor
AUTRIS PAIGE, Baritone
BRADY MURPHY, Student Artist

2005 - RENE HEREDIA, Flamenco Guitarist

2006 - CYPRIEN KATSARIS, Pianist

2007 - "The Art of the Spiritual"
Three Baritones performing African-American Spirituals
LUIZ-OTTAVIO FARIA - AUTRIS PAIGE - ANTHONY TURNER